Propellers for Turbo - Sensenich or Prince

[pappas]

I am wondering if anyone has actually flown their turbo Aerovee with both the Sensenich and Prince P-tip CRUISE props. I have seen some discussion about props in general, but I have the opportunity to replace my ED Sterba climb-ish prop with either of the others on my Waiex B. I am flying a Sterba 54 in x 52 pitch. I know, not the recommended cruise or climb dimensions but a combo, and my own ordering error. I came to the conclusion that even with the high summer DA in Phoenix, I fly from and visit airports that have 5,000 to 7,000 feet of runway with no trees, just desert, at either end. So, I want to go faster at the same map and fuel burn. I am sure no one has ever wanted to do that before!

I corresponded with Kerry at Sonex and he stands by their recommended 56 x 52 Sensenich. I have always found Kerry steers us straight and I value his experience with the brand. Because us experimenters always want options I also spoke to Steve at Sensenich and he suggested that I could use a 56 x 54 on our turbo. Less climb but more speed. Decisions decisions. Does anyone have a direct comparison of the recommended Prince and Sensenich CRUISE props on a turbo Aerovee?

By the way, and for what it's worth, Steve at Sensenich told me that they are once again producing the ground adjustable prop for the Sonex line. Apparently, (and I don't know if this is true), there were some issues in the past with the Sensenich hub that prompted Sonex to remove the ground adjustable from their recommended list. Steve said Sensenich has now redesigned the hub and Sensenich is offering it again. Sonex has not yet signed on and I forgot to mention it to Kerry.

Lou Pappas
Waiex B 0010
RV-8
WAIEX 0031
Hiperlight SNS-9
Falcon ultralight

[tomwasser]

Lou Pappas, Tom Wasser here upstate NY 400' Sonex standard Aerovee trying Sensenich ground adjustable prop and with key 2, 2450-2500 RPMs static, changed to Sensenich wood prop and easily 3000 rpms static. Performance great! Tried steeper pitch with key #3 and even lower rpms range 2200-2250. One flight a little dicy with very poor climb performance so gently banked and returned to the airport, Would suggest not even try the keys 3, 4, or 5 because take off performance so poor. Does anyone have experience with this ground adjustable prop with their Aerovee engine?
Tom Wasser
N946DW
3159460123

[GWMotley]

I have a ground adjustable Sensenich prop but for a UL Power engine on another aircraft. Something to think about, I took my fattest pitch pin and had it turned down two Steps below the the #2 pin to provide a flatter prop pitch when desired. I agree, I would never use the #6 anyway. This provided a pitch pin setting of #0-#1 which significantly increased RPM.

[sonex1374]

Tom,

Other builders have had similar problems with the Sensenich ground adjustable prop pitch pins, and the solution was to custom machine new pins that would allow the prop to be set at a flatter pitch (to get the rpm up). You might give some thought to this as an easier fix before switching to a new prop entirely.

Jeff

[pappas]

I am not really interested in using a ground adjustable prop for the Aerovee Turbo. Just a personal preference, I guess. On previous aircraft, I found that once I get them set where I like them, they are essentially fixed pitch for the rest of their lives anyway. I have been testing props on my turbo and will post results when I get done.

I am testing my Ed Sterba 53x52, a Prince P-tip 54x52, and a Princ P-tip 54x50 which have been kindly lent to me by Robbie Culver and Mike Farley. Recently Bob Baird agreed to lend me his Sensenich, factory recommended, 56x52 as he is still building. Hopefully, I can complete the testing before it gets to be 1,000 degrees here in the Phoenix summer! Of course, it is a dry heat, so we don't start to actually melt until it gets to 750!